Every December, the parish celebrates two Marian feast days. On December 6, CCD children sang "Immaculate Mary" after the 8 a.m. Mass to honor the Immaculate Conception, whose feast day was the following Tuesday. In addition to joining in the singing, the lower two levels of CCD decorated the reception table with class-made Miraculous Medal artwork and flowers. The following Sunday, honor was given to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast day was the previous day. The parish presented Our Lady with roses before the Sunday Masses and enjoyed Mexican treats and marachi music after the 11 a.m. Mass.

Fr Van Vliet's mother and his younger sister Linda Empey surprised the parish with a second visit this year. Their first visit was in January and this time around, they were able to stay in the Caretaker House at the site and enjoy a United States Thanksgiving (the Canadian Thanksgiving is in October). Since they were staying at the house, they decided to pitch in with the tile work in the bathrooms because as his mother said, "We're here and we might as well help." Spoken like a true Van Vliet! Their departure came too soon and we hope they will visit again and bring more of the clan!

Relics and Visit November 6 and 7, 2015

Fr. John Berg, Superior General of the FSSP, stopped by for a two-day visit that coincided with the arrival of the relics of St. Maria Goretti in the SEAS Main Church. The relics of St. Maria Goretti are on tour and arrived early Friday, departing Saturday morning. Over 20,000 people came to venerate the saint. Fr. Berg celebrated a Low Mass at 6:30 a.m. that Saturday morning in the SEAS Chapel. His visit was strictly Fraternity business; he is visiting all apostolates in connection with his duties as Superior General.

Oct. 26 through Oct. 30, Fr. Van Vliet was on retreat and Fr. Terrence Gordon, FSSP served in his absence. Fr. Gordon is one of two Parochial Vicars in the Irving apostolate, Mater Dei. He stayed through November 1, joining in First Vespers of All Saints on October 31 and celebrating the High Mass on All Saints Day. Since the relics of St. Maria Goretti would be at SEAS later in the week, his sermon was on her life, the importance of purity in what we see and read, and the power of prayer and forgiveness.

Honoring Our Lady with a Rosary Procession on the first Sunday of October has become a special treat for the parish, and this day was no exception. The sun sparkled on the pond as the faithful passed by, chanting the Rosary in Latin, English and Spanish. The path lead from the pond through a shade-filled thicket before eventually stopping where we had begun, at the statue of St. Joseph, which is also the future location of the eventual chapel to be dedicated in his honor. After the ending prayers, the faithful broke for a delicious Mexican supper of barbacoa, beans and rice, and lots and lots of desserts!

Frs. Saguto and Van Vliet enjoy a quick lunch before Fr. Saguto departs for the FSSP headquarters in Elmhurst, New Jersey.

Visit of FSSP District Superior Fr. Gerard Saguto. In connection with his new duties as North American District Superior of the FSSP, Fr. Saguto is making a series of trips to the various apostolates under his jurisdiction to get a better understanding of their needs and opportunities and to introduce himself to the faithful. Houston was the fourth and last stop on a ten-day trip that started in Calgary. He went to the property on Saturday and met with volunteers as they worked on various chores, including forming and staining the roof for the Pieta shrine we are buildng at SEAS, weed-whacking overgrown areas on the property and doing other necessary grounds maintenance. A hearty lunch of burgers and dogs hot off the grill ended the day. On Sunday, Fr. Saguto celebrated the High Mass and met with faithful. His sermon was a powerful discussion of social justice and its definition in light of the Magisterium of the Church.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Beginning at 7 p.m. on September 12, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the FLC for twelve hours of adoration and prayer for the success of our construction program.

Other activiites in the month. Other activities in September included the resumption of CCD and Youth Group activities, both which had been on summer hiatus, and parish participation in the 40 Days for Life international prayer vigil, which began on September 23. Our parish day to pray before Planned Parenthood on the Gulf Freeway was September 25.

August 2015Saturday, August 15, two reasons to celebrate: Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the second anniversary of the establishment of Regina Caeli Parish! The parish celebrated with an elegant breakfast buffet in the FLC after the 8 a.m. High Mass. After the reception, some parishioners met with FSSP seminarian Stephen Braun for an impromptu Latin class. While in Houston during his summer break, Mr. Braun volunteered to teach an introductory Latin class after the Sunday High Masses. Classes began on July 5 and ended August 23. Grateful parishioners gave him a farewell lunch and gift after the last class.

Pieta Update July 2015

Columns installed preparatory to adding roof. See discusion of the Pieta work under A Gift of Gratitude below.

The Priests of Summer June & July 2015

First Mass. On June 14, Houston's very own Fr. Michael Malain, FSSP came to Regina Caeli to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for his ordination in Lincoln, Nebraska on May 30, 2015, and to give first blessings to parishioners. A reception to celebrate his ordination and that of our pastor, Fr. Van Vliet (ordained June 15, 1996) immediately followed. The FLC was in the process of being decorated for an upcoming SEAS Spanish Vacation Bible School, so the faithful noshed on food surrounded by celestial objects, rockets, and even an astonaut floating in space! (See the photos.)

Fr. Lockey receiving a first blessing from Fr. Malain

Changes at SEAS. Effective July 1, Fr. Paul Lockey, pastor of SEAS, was re-assigned full-time to St. Mary's Seminary, where he had been teaching diocesan seminarians on a part-time basis. In 2011, he invited the apostolate to SEAS, and provided much support and guidance, including celebrating the Traditional Mass for us in Father's absence. A photo had been taken of his saying a Traditional Mass in the Main Church, and at a SEAS reception held in his honor, Fr. Van Vliet presented him with the framed photo and a spriritual bouquet from our parish.

Fr. Stephen Reynolds is the new pastor of SEAS. His prior assignment was pastor of St. Theresa in Sugar Land, where he celebrated the Traditional Mass on occasion.

In support of FSSP priests. The parish celebrated the Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul on Sunday June 28 in anticipation of the actual feast day, which was the next day. On the feast day, a plenary indulgence is avaiable to members of the Confraternity of St. Peter. The Confraternity is a lay organization that supports the mission of the FSSP and its priests.

On the evening of the Feast of Corpus Christi, candle lights flickered on the altar at the Pieta shrine in readiness for the arrival of the Real Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Although our fourth year to celebrate this feast with a procession, it was our first procession with a second altar. The Divine Praises were said at both altars, folowed by a blessing of the faithful from the Sacred Host. The procession was by necessity short, but it did give us joyful anticipation of future processions once we are on our own property. The procession was repeated the following Sunday.

April showers bring May showers? The wettest month in Houston history nonetheless opened with two consecutive Sundays of gentle weather as if Our Lady were smiling upon the children. Eleven First Communicants, our largest group to date, led the faithful in the presentation of flowers, and Zulma had the honor of crowning Our Blessed Mother. On the following Fifth Sunday after Easter, the children received First Communion. Congratulations to Erik, R.D., Elizabeth, Jordin, Rohan, Maria, Molly, Gregory, Martha, Zulma, and Jun-Wai.

As in 2013, Lent arrived very early and Palm Sunday fell on March 29. This year, a rarely occurring total lunar eclipse, sometimes called a blood moon because of its reddish color, was seen at sunrise on Holy Saturday. That night, five adults entered the Church after a year of catechesis under the direction of Fr. Van Vliet and one child entered, who had been brought up in the Faith and attends CCD. Congratulations to George Gaiennie, Marissa Kanewske, Jordin, Chelsea Moore, David Swallow and Trent Thornton!

To the delight of Father and everyone in the parish, his mother Pietje Van Vliet came to visit, accompanied by his younger sister Linda Empey. Mother and sister received a warm, Texas welcome - literally! Coming from the cold of Canada, they were tickled to shed coats for sweaters and dine al fresco in the middle of winter. They enjoyed meeting parishioners, spending a day at the property (llama greeting included!), and seeing some of the sites in Houston. They especially enjoyed a mid-week trip with Father to San Antonio and the Missions. The week ended too soon, but at least a little bit of Texas went home with them when Ms. Empey mastered "y'all" and left with her very own cowboy hat!

From left to right; At the Missions; Bottom right: At the site

A Gift of Gratitude Ongoing in 2015

In 2014, Fr. Lockey, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church (SEAS), and his parish decided to move their life-sized Pieta from its ground location near the side chapel of the main church to the adjacent courtyard.

From left to right; Original location, Busting existing concrete for new foundation, Platform built for raised Pieta

Fr. Van Vliet proposed our parish build a shrine to house the Pieta as a gift of gratitude and thanksgiving to SEAS for their constant support. The Pieta would be raised on a platform protected by roofing, with an altar installed at the base of the statute. Parishioner Jerry Tipps drew up an architectural rendering of the design, and Father and volunteers have worked on the project, and continue to work on it, as time and weather permits. Their progress on the Pieta can be seen in some of the photos taken during parish events this year. The experience gained from the work will be invaluable in constructing a similar shrine at the site for St. Michael the Archangel.